Contact spring for a plug-in connector

Abstract

A contact spring for a plug-in connector includes spring legs (2,3) which are disposed and constructed in such a way that they are capable of exerting a compressive force from opposite sides on a contact blade (20) inserted in between and of thereby establishing contact with the contact blade. The spring legs (2,3) are disposed laterally offset with respect to each other in such a way that they do not overlap each other in the respective directions of compressive force.

I claim: 
     
       1. A contact spring for a plug-in connector, comprising: a common supporting portion having a first region and a second region laterally offset from said second region, said common portion having a substantially Z-like staggered shape, said first region and said second region forming opposite ends of said substantially Z-like staggered shape; and   spring legs including a first spring leg extending from said first region of said common supporting portion, and a second spring leg extending from said second region of said common supporting portion;   said spring legs disposed and constructed for contacting a contact blade inserted between said spring legs and for exerting a compressive force in given respective directions from opposite sides upon the contact blade, and said spring legs extending mutually laterally offset for preventing a mutual overlap of said spring legs in said respective directions of compressive force.   
     
     
       2. The contact spring according to claim 1, wherein said spring legs each have one end connected to said common supporting portion. 
     
     
       3. The contact spring according to claim 1, wherein said spring legs are elongate elements with a relatively large width and a comparatively small thickness. 
     
     
       4. The contact spring according to claim 3, wherein said spring legs have mutually facing broad sides inclined toward each other. 
     
     
       5. The contact spring according to claim 4, wherein said spring legs have free ends and lateral projections each widening said broad side at a respective one of said free ends. 
     
     
       6. The contact spring according to claim 5, wherein said lateral projections are each constructed to be guided and held in a guide slot in a spring chamber of a plug-in connector housing associated with the contact spring, with said free end of a respective one of said spring legs bearing against a wall of the spring chamber. 
     
     
       7. The contact spring according to claim 2, wherein said spring legs are inclined initially in said respective direction of compressive force and are then inclined counter to said respective direction of compressive force, starting from said common supporting portion.